DOJ Asks Supreme Court to Hear Trump’s Appeal on Tax Returns

(Bloomberg) -- The Justice Department urged the U.S. Supreme Court to hear President Donald Trump’s bid to prevent his tax returns from being turned over to a New York prosecutor.

Adding his voice to those of Trump’s personal lawyers, U.S. Solicitor General Noel Francisco said a federal appeals court was too quick to uphold a grand jury subpoena for the documents from Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr.

Francisco didn’t go as far in his arguments as Trump’s private lawyers, who contended in their appeal that the president has broad immunity from criminal investigations while in office. The solicitor general instead said Vance must make a “heightened showing of need” to get the tax returns.

Francisco, who was appointed by Trump, is the federal government’s top courtroom advocate.

The case is one of Trump’s subpoena fights that is pulling the Supreme Court into a partisan fray over his personal conduct and business dealings. Trump is also asking the court to block a House subpoena for his financial documents. Both subpoenas were sent to Mazars USA LLP, his accountant.

To contact the reporter on this story: Greg Stohr in Washington at gstohr@bloomberg.net

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Michael Shepard at mshepard7@bloomberg.net, John Harney, Kevin Whitelaw

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